Monthly Archives: September 2017

Texans’ Deshaun Watson, Cowboys’ Dak Prescott share state, number and, now, NFL success

Game Blake Comeau Jersey The state of Texas now has two winning NFL quarterbacks who wear No. 4.
Game Ben Roethlisberger Jersey
Deshaun Watson got the W in his first pro start Thursday as Houston topped Cincinnati 13-9. Watson’s 49-yard run in the second quarter was the game’s only touchdown.

Now, don’t get it twisted: It’s way too early to say Watson will match Prescott as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Watson has a way to go before he can approach Prescott’s proficiency, and Watson doesn’t have the supporting cast Prescott enjoys in North Dallas.

Still, Watson showed enough big-play ability Thursday to make people think he can be a winner in the pros, and as his throwing improves, he can become a dual threat similar to Prescott.

Which means that with 4 and 4 around, Lone Star State fans should enjoy some great debates over the next few years.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers quarterback: By no means, no way shape or form, was there any disrespect intended toward our troops and those that serve this country. We all have the utmost respect for them, obviously. They give us the freedom to play this game. Last night, obviously with all the issues going on if you will, we had a players’ only meeting after the team meeting last night. We decided we were going to talk about what we were going to do because we knew some guys wanted to take a knee, guys wanted to stand.

We said whatever we do, we need to make sure we are unified as one group because that’s what we are about and that is what it should be about. Staying together as one unit, one group, one brotherhood, things like that, so rather than having one guy kneel, one guy stand, the conclusion was made by everybody that the best thing to do was to stay in the locker room and show respect that way. Roethlisberger was not on the field for the anthem, along with most of the Steelers.

Allen was thrilled to get a defensive score.

After rookie backup Pat Mahomes unleashed a series of spectacular passes in the Chiefs’ final preseason game, Smith was spotted on the sideline looking … not enthused. The moment recalled his body language in the midst of losing his starting job to Colin Kaepernick with the 49ers.

Smith never got his starting job back in San Francisco. So far after stepping back into the Chiefs’ lineup, he has not only played well, but so unlike himself.

Smith is averaging 6.8 yards per attempt over his career, which is paltry given he’s completing 62 percent of his passes. Last season, just 8.16 percent of his passes traveled more than 20 yards through the air, according to Cian Fahey’s Pre-Snap Reads Quarterback Catalogue, fewer than every qualified quarterback except Sam Bradford and Jared Goff.

Elite Mens Justin Hardy Jersey We always talk about it on defense. Let’s score on defense, Allen said. Our offense is really good, so we’re like, shoot. We’re going to try to get some scores over here, too. So Tru ended up doing that.

Trufant earned Sunday Night Football player of the game honors for his performance against Rodgers.

So it was a big moment for me, Trufant said. It was great, and I’ve got to keep pushing it.

Trufant looked a little rusty in Week 1 against the Bears. It was his first time back on the field for regular-season action since November of last year.
Mark Stone Kids Jersey
But there was no rust on Sunday against the Packers. And Trufant has his sights set even higher.

I feel like I’m just tapping what I could do, my potential, and I’ve got a great supporting cast around me, and I’m just trying to be one of the best, Trufant said.

Sunday night, against one of the best quarterbacks in the game, was a good start.

Lions K Matt Prater made 1 of the most dramatic field goals you’ll ever see

Matt Prater attempted a 56-yard field goal Monday night and it would’ve missed if the Detroit Lions kicker came up even a fraction of an inch shorter. Instead, he got a deflection off the middle of the upright that bounced to the left and just barely through.

It was basically the football equivalent of a basketball circling the rim five times before finally falling through.

For Prater, it was a 12th consecutive successful field goal from 50 yards or longer, but ultimately in the grand scheme, the stakes weren’t too high. It was a kick at the end of the first half of a Week 2 game to extend a lead for the Lions.

Imagine if a game-winning field goal attempt ricocheted up in the air like that and everyone was holding their breath to see which side it would land on. I know what I’ll be rooting for at the end of every game from now on.

On the night in question, the woman texted her friend who had accompanied her that evening and asked her to lie to police about what had occurred.

“If they ask he dragged me out of my car,” the text read. The friend later texted Elliott’s accuser to ask if she wanted her to lie. The accuser said yes.

The witness statements from that night contradicted her version of events, too. Of the five eyewitnesses who gave statements, including the woman’s friend, none corroborated Elliott’s accuser’s story. All five witnesses said no contact occurred between the woman and Elliott on that night.

The friend also confirmed that the woman had been involved in a physical altercation with another woman at a club earlier in the evening. Elliott told police that the woman’s bruises were the result of that fight.
6

he carries the weight for what available fill-in quarterback isn’t playing.

Authentic Kids Travis Dermott Jersey Houston can’t do anything about its rivals’ upgraded defenses, but there’s an easy fix that will allow Watson or Savage a little extra security — the team can pay Duane Brown. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, has been an anchor of the team’s offensive line since 2008, protecting the blindsides of passers like Matt Schaub, Brian Hoyer, and Ryan Fitzpatrick at left tackle. He wasn’t on the field Sunday, however; instead, he’s stuck in a contract holdout that’s scratched the team’s most reliable blocker from the lineup.

Brown is due $9.4 million this year and $9.75m the next, but neither of those years are guaranteed. He’s angling for a new contract or extension that would provide some additional security as the miles pile up on his football odometer. The former All-Pro just turned 32, but he still played at a high level last fall.

And yes, he carries the weight for what available fill-in quarterback isn’t playing. He told the Indianapolis Star last month that the Colts spoke to possible free-agent replacements, considered a few — but none of them was Colin Kaepernick.

Authentic Kids Shaquille O’Neal Jersey Fine. Just more reaping of what he sowed. Irsay, that is. The league’s first Sunday was littered with the debris of lousy quarterback play by teams that flinched when considering Kaepernick. The biggest pile of debris belonged to the Colts. It’s what they — and the owner — brought on themselves.

And as the season keeps falling apart, so does the prime of Luck’s career. The idea two seasons ago that the Colts were going to blow their window with him was dismissed by many as premature and reactionary. Doesn’t seem that way anymore. They’re plunging right back to the nadir that positioned them to get Luck in 2012 in the first place.

That’s the owner clearing the Colts’ path back to the bottom. All the people and things that are to blame — Irsay is to blame for all of them.

It doesn’t matter how you get your points in fantasy.

Elite Daimion Stafford Jersey
With the Patriots trying to protect a big lead against New Orleans on Sunday, Mike Gillislee racked up a team-high 18 carries. That was 14 more than any of his teammates. Gillislee found the end zone for the fourth time in two games but again went without a target and played fewer snaps than James White (29 to 28). Gillislee is what we thought he might be: LeGarrette Blount 2.0. Similar to Blount last season, Gillislee is on the field simply to carry the ball (33 carries on 49 snaps), especially near the goal line (NFL-high 2.7 rushing OTD), and nothing more. He’s extremely touchdown-dependent, but Gillislee is an RB2 option in his current role.

Limited Charles Harris Jersey A reminder: Wentz has had a couple of 50-plus-yard passing plays that qualified as unlikely (in Week 1 it was a touchdown to Nelson Agholor, in Week 2 it was a tipped pass caught by Zach Ertz). The volume is undeniable with Wentz right now: He has 85 passing attempts through two games and 640 passing yards. Yes, he has QB1 upside. The Eagles continue to struggle to run the football, which should lend itself to more throwing for the second-year quarterback. He’s a viable weekly starter for anyone who is dissatisfied with his or her quarterback play (perhaps someone who has grown impatient with Russell Wilson) or worried about a particular upcoming matchup.

It was a difficult start to the season for the Cardinals, who were flattened in Week 1 by the Lions, and David Johnson is set to miss extended time because of a dislocated wrist. While Carson Palmer had major struggles in Week 1, there’s basically no better matchup based off of what we saw in Week 1 than the Colts. The team remains without Vontae Davis, and while Fitzgerald does his heavy lifting from the slot, there’s little reason to believe Indy will have much of an answer for him. Expect a massive target share and a productive day for Fitz. — Field Yates

Ten teammates surrounded Reid with a hand on his shoulder as he knelt.

Limited Mens Joe Thornton Jersey Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, who sat a number of times during the anthem in the preseason, again sat on Sunday. He hasn’t discussed why he sits during the pregame.

49ers safety Eric Reid again knelt for the national anthem, following through on his promise to continue the protest he was a part of all last season along with Colin Kaepernick.

As before, CBS Sports won’t televise the actual playing of the anthem, but the network’s announcers, including the No. 1 team of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo, are free to weigh in where and how they see fit, according to spokesman Jennifer Sabatelle.

There are no changes to the way we covered the anthem in the past, Sabatelle told SN. If something happens during the playing of the anthem, we will document it. As always, our announcers are free to express their opinions.

ESPN is still working through the issue as it prepares to kick off a stronger Monday Night Football schedule than usual with a Saints-Vikings/Chargers-Broncos doubleheader Monday.

We are still finalizing our pregame plans, yet, like we’ve done in the past, we will document and present anything noteworthy and relevant to our audience, spokesman Josh Krulewitz said in a statement.
Limited Mens Brian Campbell Jersey
The Ravens just absolutely dominated the Cincinnati Bengals during their opening week matchup and now get the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 2. While DeShone Kizer may have looked capable against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the fact of the matter is the Browns gained just 3.82 yards per play in that game, which was the third-lowest mark in the league. The Ravens should be able to bring consistent pressure on Kizer while eliminating any potential threat the Browns running game could have, making them a candidate for a top-five finish for this week.

Jaguars say WR Allen Robinson suffered injury to ACL in left knee

Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson sustained an injury to the ACL in his left knee during Jacksonville’s 29-7 win over the Houston Texans, the team announced.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are feeling pretty good about their pass rush. So much so that they’ve changed their Twitter name.

The Jaguars’ defense sacked the Texans six times while the offense kept Blake Bortles clean and hammered away with rookie Leonard Fournette.
Coach Doug Marrone will have additional updates during a Monday afternoon conference call, according to the team.

He did not — and the courts will not — consider the merits of the domestic violence accusations against Elliott that prompted the league to suspend him for six games. The legal battle is simply over the disciplinary process.

Elliott rushed 24 times for 104 yards and added 36 yards receiving in the Cowboys’ season-opening win over the Giants on Sunday night.

San Francisco lost the debut of its new head coach, but new starting QB Brian Hoyer and the rest of the team’s wholesale new parts at wideout (Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Trent Taylor), tight end (George Kittle), running back (Matt Breida) and fullback (Kyle Juszczyk) weren’t as lost as the score indicates. There were a lot of disconnects, as everything beyond holdover feature back Carlos Hyde was out of sync. The versatile talent and depth will lead to big plays and better days soon.

Panthers: “Cam Newton still looks off in this offense.”steelers_120

Jets add Jeremy Kerley to depleted WR corps

The Jets signed wide receiver Jeremy Kerley Tuesday after he was released by the 49ers last week, the team announced.

Kerley spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Jets before moving to San Francisco in 2016, catching 64 passes for 667 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season with the 49ers.

Kerley, who mainly works out of the slot, has 246 career catches for 2,892 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Game Youth Willie Horton Jersey
The Jets recently traded with the Seahawks for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. They also drafted Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart in this year’s draft.

While the Jets are expected to have one of the worst offenses in the NFL this season, Kerley’s arrival could help them move the chains due to his sure hands and solid route-running abilities.

It’s virtually impossible to evaluate Goff outside of the context in which he played. The Rams led the entire way. They faced a lethargic, self-destructive Colts team missing its best players on offense (Andrew Luck) and defense (Vontae Davis). Indy’s offense went 0-for-11 on third and fourth downs. Coach Chuck Pagano couldn’t even get the opponent’s name right after the game. Adam Vinatieri missed an extra point. Adam Vinatieri!

Game Youth Josh Huff Jersey At the same time, though, Goff faced a similarly dreadful 49ers team in Week 16 last season, and he didn’t look competent then. In a winnable game at home against the league’s 28th-ranked defense by DVOA, Goff went 11-of-24 for just 90 yards with a touchdown off a short field, two picks and four sacks.

Cravens must sit out for a month, at which point the Redskins will have to make a decision about his status.

Cravens informed the other defensive backs in a group chat Saturday night that he was going to retire and then exited the session by saying Peace out, a source said. They were upset with him and what they heard.

Dion Lewis Authentic Jersey Cravens is one of the league’s youngest players, a second-round pick last year, and he is struggling with his transition to the NFL. Washington officials want to help him through his issues rather than have him walk away from the game, which would make him one of the youngest NFL players to date to retire.

I was just so happy for him. When he went through his whole little recruiting process he was getting so frustrated. I knew. I could tell. I could sense it.
Joe Namath Authentic Jersey
Newton compared watching Caylin being interviewed on ESPN to the attention Steve McNair got at Alcorn State in the mid-1990s. McNair went on to become the No. 3 pick of the 1995 draft and a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

It’s just a [testament] to hard work, Newton said. For a person that wasn’t highly recruited, he seen his brother grow up and had accolades and had all the stardom coming out of high school.

I just told him be patient, that everything works for the greater good, knowing everything that your heart desires is still at hand, no matter if you’re at Idaho Tech or wherever, they’re going to find out. You just do your part and everything else will take care of itself.

For Eryk Anders, a love of MMA came much later.

The Dolphins are trying to reach the postseason for the first time in back-to-back years since 2000-01, and they will be doing it with a new quarterback in Jay Cutler. The Bucs are coming off a 9-7 season, just narrowly missing the playoffs in 2016.
Kids Harrison Butker Jersey
Both teams share a bye week in November. Neither team is in favor of playing in Week 11, with Koetter showing strong resistance.
Kids Corey Dickerson Jersey
What do you think? Nobody wants that, said Koetter. No one wants to play 16 straight [games]. They’re not asking my opinion, but I’m sure they realize that.

Among the passages in the lawsuit:

Elliott and the Union were subjected to an arbitration process in which, among other things, there was a League-orchestrated conspiracy by senior NFL executives, including NFL Senior Vice President and Special Counsel for Investigations Lisa Friel, to hide critical information, which would completely exonerate Elliott, the petition reads.

[T]he NFLPA and Elliott do not seek in this Petition for the Court to make its own determinations about Elliott’s or [the accuser’s] credibility, or any other matter of fact-finding properly left to the arbitrator, the lawsuit reads, via Pro Football Talk.

When I was with my last team, the Bears, I was doing jiu-jitsu tournaments during the offseason, which is probably frowned upon because of risk of injury, Lane said. When I won them I couldn’t accept the cash prizes. I’d just sneak out the back door and say ‘Hey, sorry I can’t accept anything like that.’ So when I was with my last team in Chicago, I kind of knew what I was going to do next and that was MMA for sure.